Abstract:
The major purpose of this study was to investigate the child-care practices adopted by the caregivers in crèches in Lagos state. Specifically, the study determined the important child-care practices relating to feeding, healthcare, toilet training, play/physical exercise, sleep/rest and safety which ought to be adopted by caregivers in crèches. It also determined those practices that are actually adopted by caregivers in crèches in Lagos State. The study further determined the problems encountered by the caregivers in the crèches in their care practices and ways of solving them. The area of the study was Lagos state. The population for the study was 1005 respondents consisting of 701 caregivers in crèches and 304 in-house medical nurses. A sample of 353 respondents made up of 237 caregivers and 116 nurses was used for the study. The 237 caregivers comprised 141 highly qualified caregivers (those with N.C.E and above) and 96 less qualified caregivers (those with G.C.E or its equivalent and below). Questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation for the research questions and t-test for null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The major findings of the study included 98 important practices that child caregivers adopted in the crèches which included that caregivers prepared babies’ foods according to manufacturers’ instructions and they washed their hands thoroughly especially after toileting or diapering. The findings also included 94 child-care practices that were actually adopted by the caregivers which included that caregivers did change the babies’ diapers/nappies as and when due, they also ensured that the floor and furniture were cleaned and disinfected especially after meals and after any toilet accident or vomiting by the children. The study further identified 18 problems that caregivers encountered which included; poor salary, children who are difficult to settle to sleep as well as children who cry a lot without any known reason. The study also identified 21 ways of solving the problems. They include among others that parents and caregivers should be open minded towards each other and the caregivers should model good behaviour to the children. Based on the findings, five recommendations were made which include; that curriculum planners should include crèche management in the Home Economics curriculum so as to professionally train child caregivers who would work in crèches, among others.
